Oak Park-River Forest wrote another chapter in its magical season over the weekend.
After winning its first conference title in 22 years, the Huskies dominated the Fenwick Sectional on Saturday. Oak Park finished with 329 total points — the highest team total of any sectional — ahead of second-place Fenwick’s 274.
“The vibe is amazing, and everyone is really excited,” senior Will Raidt said. “But nobody is satisfied.”
Raidt helped lead the 200-yard medley relay (1 minute, 32.75 seconds), 200 freestyle relay (1:25.71) and 400 free relay (3:08.16) teams to state qualification. Juniors Diego Pareja and Frank Tirone joined Raidt in all three relays.
Raidt, a Harvard commit, also won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:41.58.
“He’s been that stoic, still-waters-run-deep kind of guy who leads by example, is reliable and gets the job done,” coach Clyde Lundgren said. “He’s faithful, he’s dedicated.
“It’s such a luxury to have a guy like that be a part of the program. He always delivers — of course in the water — but he’s just so steady as a person. He’s not going to be overly amped or anything. He just continues moving toward the direction you want, and that’s forward.”
Last season, the Huskies lost the conference title to Hinsdale Central by three points. That inspired them to push harder in the offseason, and they knew that they could reach some lofty goals this season.
“I think the guys on the team all thought about it right after conference ended last year, because we were just so close,” Raidt said. “I think we should’ve won that one. So we all knew we’d be back and better, probably get over that hump we just missed.”
Junior Ben Guerrero also qualified in the 200 individual medley (1:53.46) and 100 breaststroke (58.22). Tirone (21.15) and junior James Shorney (21.73) qualified in the 50 free, while Shorney also advanced in the 100 free (47.28). Freshman Emmett Harmon (52.02) qualified for the 100 butterfly.
Pareja (51.16) and senior Evan Burnham (52.53) advanced in the 100 backstroke, and senior Braydon Graves (58.72) qualified in the 100 breaststroke. Senior Tyler Hoyt scored 425.8 points in a sectional-winning diving performance.
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The goal for OPRF is to win its first state title since 1998.
“Honestly, I think our success comes down to chemistry,” Raidt said. “The guys, we’re all just so close. We hang out all the time outside of swimming. It’s really elevated us to a different level because we’re competing for each other.”
Friars rooting for Bajda: Fenwick coach Luke McGuire hopes hard-working, dedicated and selfless Dan Bajda can end his high school career with a strong state meet.
Bajda qualified individually for state in the 50 free (21.74), good for fourth-best at the sectional meet.
“He’s one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever coached,” McGuire said. “And he’s always committed and dedicated to doing whatever it is that’s best for the team.”
Badja also swam for both of the Friars’ state-qualifying relay teams. Junior Pete Buinauskas, sophomore Mike Flynn, junior Connor McCarthy and Bajda finished in 1:34.59 in the 200 medley relay, and they finished the 400 free relay in 3:07.46.
“(Bajda) just does what he’s asked,” McGuire said. “No question. He’s always been a team player. He’s the utility guy. He works hard, and I’d take 10 of him on my team if I had the chance.”
Flynn also advanced in the 200 free (1:42.80) and 500 free (4:39.32), while McCarthy qualified for the 200 individual medley (1:54.94) and 100 butterfly (51.25).
The Friars will be well represented at the state meet Friday and Saturday in Evanston, and Bajda will be at the center of it all.
“I’d love to see (Bajda) go out on a high note,” McGuire said. “But it’s like saying which one of your kids is your favorite.
“Dan has worked hard for four years. He’s a great kid, he’s worked hard for it and I can definitely say he deserves it.”
Rich Mayor is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press